Chelsea equalled a club record as they beat Crystal Palace to secure their 11th successive Premier League win and move nine points clear at the top of the table.

Diego Costa put the Blues ahead with their first attempt on target as he headed in from Cesar Azpilicueta’s floated cross.

Marcos Alonso nearly doubled the visitors’ lead as he hit the underside of the crossbar with a curling 25-yard free-kick.

Palace’s best chances fell to Jason Puncheon, but he headed wide and fired a free-kick narrowly over.

Antonio Conte’s side, who have 43 points, have played a game more than Liverpool in second and third-placed Arsenal, who are both on 34 points.

Arsenal meet fourth-placed Manchester City on Sunday, before Liverpool visit Everton in the Merseyside derby on Monday.

Chelsea also won 11 matches between April and September 2009, with the Premier League record being Arsenal’s 14-game winning run in 2002.